Biotechnology Research Roadmap - Science and Innovation

Summary
Biotechnology research has critical roles in New Zealand. It is a mainstay of growth for
New Zealand’s predominantly biological economic base, providing new knowledge to
keep and develop our competitive advantages. It will transform our primary sector into one
producing increasingly value-added and environmentally sustainable products and processes.
Biotechnology research is also fuelling the new biotechnology-based industries and enterprises
of the future, including New Zealand’s drug development, medical device and ag-biotech
enterprises which are linked to global research partners and markets. It underpins biodiversity
and biosecurity management in New Zealand and also drives innovations within the global
healthcare sector to benefit the health of New Zealanders.
The importance of biotechnology research to New Zealand is reflected in the proportion
of government research funding spent on it. At 25% of total government R&D investment
(or around $195 million per annum), this is proportionally the highest share of governmentfunded
biotechnology research in the OECD. Our research profile mirrors our industrial
base and its dependence on the environment. We have particular strengths in plant and
animal biotechnology and environmental biotechnology research leveraged from our stringent
biosecurity management system and history of innovation in farming practice. New Zealand also
has world-class expertise in some key biomedical research niches.
Government initiatives over the past five years have put into place the ‘development with
care’ approach of the New Zealand Biotechnology Strategy. Changes have included the
establishment of a new industry body, NZBio; support for research commercialisation;
streamlined regulations; more public information about biotechnology; and the development
of a whole of government approach to policy. These measures have, however, focused on the
wider business, policy and public settings for biotechnology and not the strategic directions for
biotechnology research. This Roadmap, developed by the Ministry of Research, Science and
Technology (MoRST), addresses the gap.
This Roadmap identifies four main objectives for New Zealand’s involvement in biotechnology
research:
Biotechnology research should contribute to economic transformation, through higher
productivity, higher value products and diversification of the economy.
Biotechnology research should assist in protecting the natural environment and
developing environmentally sustainable industries.
New Zealanders should benefit from biotechnology developments which will improve
their health and wellbeing.
Biotechnology research should be developed and managed responsibly.
Roadmaps for Science : biotechnology research
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